ABSTRACT Barbados gooseberry (BGB) is a non-conventional vegetable highlighted for its nutritional value, particularly its protein content. However, there is a lack of scientific information for improving the plantation system of this plant. This research proposed to evaluate high-density systems to cultivate BGB plants for sprout production. The experiment was carried out in the Horticulture Sector of the Canguiri Experimental Station Farm from UFPR, located in the county of Pinhais, Paraná State, Brazil. BGB was planted in open field beds using distinctive plantation systems according to plant stands and pruning and thinning management. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three repetitions per treatment. Five high-density plantation systems (treatments) were tested: 10 (10?10): 10 × 10 cm; 2) (20?20): 20 × 20 cm; and 3) (30?30): 30 × 30 cm spacing with thinning to keep one sprout growing per primary branch per plant; 4) (30?30TS) was represented by 30 × 30 cm spacing with thinning to keep one sprout growing from each of two secondary branches grown from the primary branch to give two sprouts (TS) per plant; 5) (30?30FS) consisted of plants with 30 × 30 cm spacing with no thinning (FS = free growing sprouts). The first three treatments were thinned to one sprout per plant. Protein content of BGB sprouts was also determined to verify its real protein content. A high-density plantation system promoted BGB sprouts productivity with high protein content (28.8% from leaves of sprout). Treatment 5 produced the highest yield (21.7 t/ha per month).

RESUMO O ora-pro-nóbis (OPN) é uma olerícola não convencional que se destaca pelo seu valor nutricional, especialmente, em relação a seu teor proteico. Porém, há escassez de informações técnico-científicas sobre sistemas de cultivo recomendados. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a produção de brotos de OPN em sistema superadensado. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Setor de Horticultura da Fazenda Experimental Canguiri da UFPR, em Pinhais-PR. Para isso, efetuou-se o plantio do OPN em canteiros a céu aberto em diferentes sistemas de cultivo que variaram conforme a densidade de plantas (espaçamento) e manejo de podas e desbrotas. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com três repetições por tratamento. Foram testados cinco sistemas de cultivo em alta densidade de plantio (tratamentos): 1) 10 cm × 10 cm, 2) 20 cm × 20 cm, 3) 30 cm × 30 cm, 4) 30 cm × 30 cm e 5) 30 cm × 30 cm de espaçamento de plantio; sendo os três primeiros com desbrotas para produção de um broto por planta por colheita, o quarto com desbrota para produção de dois brotos por planta por colheita e o último sem desbrotas para livre produção de brotos. Foi também avaliada a porcentagem de proteína nos brotos de OPN para verificar o seu real conteúdo proteico. Os resultados mostraram que sistema de cultivo superadensado do OPN promove alta produtividade ao mesmo tempo que oferece um produto de alto conteúdo proteico (28,8% em folhas de broto). O cultivo no espaçamento de 30 × 30 cm e sem desbrotas proporcionou a maior produção de brotos (27,1 t/ha por mês).

HIGHLIGHTS Essential oils from populations of B. dracunculifolia were investigated. β-pinene and (E)-nerolidol were the main compounds in B. dracunculifolia populations. The difference in the chemical profile of the essential oils is quantitative only. There is a negative correlation between the antioxidant activity and spathulenol.

Abstract Eugenia uniflora, known as the “Brazilian cherry”, is an economically important neotropical Myrtaceae in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries due the production of essential oils with antioxidant activity. On account of its significant genetic variability, genotype evaluations are needed in order to identify genetic features related to the essential oil production that meet the industry requirements. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the yield, composition, and antioxidant activity of essential oils isolated from the leaves of 36 genotypes of E. uniflora. Essential oil samples were obtained by hydrodistillation, and their composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. A variation of 0.22% to 1.68% in the essential oil yield was observed, in which 78 compounds, namely oxygenated sesquiterpenes, were identified. According to the cluster analysis of the major compounds, six groups were revealed. The observed diversity demonstrates the genetic variability of the species. Also, the antioxidant activity was affected by the composition of the essential oils, ranging from 176.66 to 867.57 µM TEAC.

RESUMEN El aceite esencial producido por las hojas de Eugenia uniflora es utilizado intensamente por las industrias cosmética, farmacéutica y de perfumería principalmente debido a su efecto antioxidante y sus actividades antimicrobianas y antihelmínticas. El secado y el almacenamiento de las hojas de plantas aromáticas pueden afectar el rendimiento y la calidad de su aceite esencial. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto del método de secado y las condiciones de almacenamiento sobre el rendimiento y la composición del aceite esencial en las hojas de Eugenia uniflora. El aceite esencial se extrajo de hojas secas a temperatura ambiente y a 45°C durante seis períodos de secado (0, 6, 24, 48, 72 y 96 horas). El rendimiento del aceite esencial también se analizó después de 0, 60, 120 y 180 días de almacenamiento en tres tipos de envases. El aceite se extrajo por hidrodestilación y la composición se determinó por cromatografía de gases - espectrometría de masas. Los resultados mostraron que el secado de las hojas a temperatura ambiente y 45°C durante 48 y 24 h, respectivamente, aumentó el rendimiento del aceite esencial. A 45°C, los compuestos de monoterpeno y sesquiterpeno aumentaron, con curzereno + viridifloreno identificado como los compuestos principales. Los tipos de paquetes no afectaron el rendimiento del aceite esencial, pero el aumento del período de almacenamiento lo disminuyó.

ABSTRACT The essential oil produced by Eugenia uniflora leaves is intensively used by the cosmetic, pharmaceutic and perfumery industries, mainly because its antioxidant effect and antimicrobial and antihelmintic ativities. Drying and storage of aromatic plant leaves can affect yield and quality of essential oils. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of drying method and storage conditions on the essential oil yield and composition in Eugenia uniflora leaves. The essential oil was extracted from dried leaves at ambient temperature and at 45°C for six drying periods (0, 6, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours). The essential oil yield was also analyzed after 0, 60, 120, and 180 days of storage in three types of packaging. The oil was extracted with hydrodistillation, and the composition was determined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that drying leaves at ambient temperature and 45°C for 48 and 24 h, respectively, increased the essential oil yield. At 45°C, the monoterpene and sesquiterpene compounds increased, with curzerene+viridiflorene identified as the major compounds. The packaging did not affect the essential oil yield but increasing the storage period decreased it.

Nas últimas décadas tem ocorrido no Brasil um incremento de estudos cariotípicos em peixes marinhos. Atualmente são conhecidos os cariótipos de 118 espécies, distribuídas em 43 famílias e 80 gêneros. Foram estudadas cinco espécies de peixes marinhos do complexo estuarino da Baía de Paranaguá na costa brasileira. Eucinostomus argenteus e Diapterus rhombeus (Gerreidae), apresentaram 48 cromossomos todos acrocêntricos (NF = 48); Strongylura timucu e S. marina (Belonidae) apresentaram 48 cromossomos, porém com complexidade cariotípica maior do que apresentada pelos gerreídeos, 10M+2SM+36A (NF = 60) e 4M+44A (NF = 52), respectivamente. A quinta espécie, Mugil curema (Mugilidae), ao contrário das outras quatro espécies aqui analisadas, apresentou apenas 28 cromossomos 20M+4ST+4A (NF = 48). Apesar da tendência em se verificar um cariótipo constituído por 48 cromossomos em teleósteos marinhos, as espécies aqui analisadas apresentam uma diversidade para a macroestrutura cariotípica a ser considerada para a citotaxonomia e evolução desse grupo de vertebrados.

In this study, five species of marine fishes from the Paranaguá Bay in the Brazilian coast were evaluated. Eucinostomus argenteus and Diapterus rhombeus (Gerreidae) presented 48 chromosomes, all of which more acrocentric (FN = 48); Strongylura timucu and S. marina (Belonidae) also presented 48 chromosomes, but with a higher karyotypic complexity than the Gerreidae, 10M+2SM+36A (FN = 60) and 4M+44A (FN = 52), respectively. The fifth species, Mugil curema (Mugilidae), different than the others, presented only 28 chromosomes 20M+4ST+4A (FN = 48). The species presented diversity in the karyotypic macro-structure, which should be relevant for the cytotaxonomy and the evolution of this group of the vertebrate.

Chromosomal analyses were performed in the fish Astyanax sp.D collected from three different points: two streams from the right bank and one from the left bank of the Upper Iguaçu River, Paraná State, Brazil. The individuals from all localities possess 2n = 50 chromosomes and a FN = 84 (4m+24sm+6st+16a). The C-banding pattern was similar in all populations. However, within each population, an interindividual variation concerning the number and localization of heterochromatic bands was observed. Some of these variations were quantified in each population, and the results indicate that the samples were not different when studying the variable frequencies. Considering that Astyanax sp.D is typical in the headwaters of the Iguaçu River, these results were not expected. The data indicate that gene flow is occurring and that the Iguaçu River is not an ecological barrier among the Astyanax sp. D populations.

Nesta revisão são analisados os dados citogenéticos disponíveis na literatura relativos à ictiofauna da bacia do Rio Iguaçu, a qual é caracterizada pelo alto grau de endemismo e pela baixa diversidade de espécies. Das oitenta e uma espécies conhecidas, vinte e quatro já foram cariotipadas sendo 6 Characiformes, 14 Siluriformes e 4 Perciformes. Os dados cromossômicos evidenciam a complexidade taxonômica e sistemática dos grupos. São propostas hipóteses relacionadas à evolução de alguns grupos de Characiformes e Siluriformes do Rio Iguaçu, assim como o aproveitamento de dados cariotípicos para a citotaxonomia.

The cytogenetic data available in the literature about the ichthyofauna of the Iguaçu River basin were analyzed in this review. The ichthyofauna was characterized by the high level of endemism and by the low diversity of species. Twenty-four of the eighty-one species were already karyotyped; six Characiformes, fourteen Siluriformes and four Perciformes. The chromosomal data showed the taxonomic and systematic complexity of the groups. Hypothesis related to the evolution of some Characiformes and Siluriformes groups from the Iguaçu River are proposed, as well as the utilization of karyotypic data for cytotaxonomy.

Os cariótipos de M. curema do Golfo do México e do Brasil possuem 2n=28 cromossomos e NF=48. Espécimes da Venezuela, entretanto, apresentam um número diplóide de 28 cromossomos e um NF conservado (48). Apesar desta variação sugerir, a princípio, uma variabilidade intraespecífica (interpopulacional), a possibilidade de estarmos perante diferentes espécies foi investigada. O presente trabalho re-analisa os cariótipos de M. curema da Venezuela e do Brasil, incluindo novos dados sobre bandamento C e localização das NORs e compara caracteres merísticos e morfométricos de amostras de ambas as localidades. Assim, junto com o número cromossômico, a heterocromatina constitutiva e a distribuição das NORs trazem outras diferenças entre M. curema Citótipo 1 (2n=48, FN=48) e Citótipo 2 (2n=48, FN=48). Além disso, as comparações dos caracteres morfológicos revelam diferenças nas contagens, com 35 escamas na linha média do corpo e 15 raios nas nadadeiras peitorais nos espécimes com cariótipo 2n=28, já o cariótipo 2n=24 apresenta 37-39 escamas e 17 raios nas peitorais. Essas diferenças sugerem que ambos citótipos não estão relacionados meramente a variações geográficas politípicas mas que podem corresponder a diferentes espécies.

Karyotype of M. curema from the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil have been reported as possessing chromosome complement with 2n=28 and FN=48, whereas specimens from Venezuela has been reported as possessing a diploid number 2n=24 and a conserved FN (48). Although at first sight this variation suggests the presence of a chromosomal intraspecific (interpopulational) variability, the possibility that we are dealing with two different species was examined. This work revisit the karyotypes of M. curema from Venezuela and Brazil, including new data on C-banding, and NOR localization, and compares morphologic characteristics of samples from both localities. Thus, besides diploid number, the constitutive heterochromatin distribution and NORs location, mark other differences between M. curema Cytotype 1 (2n=28; FN=48) and Cytotype 2 (2n=24; NF=48). Moreover, morphologic comparison revealed differences in the scale counts and pectoral fin rays: 35 scales in the middle body line and 15 pectoral fin rays in specimens possessing the karyotype 2n=28, compared with 37-39 scales in the middle body line and 17 pectoral fin rays in specimens with the karyotype 2n=24. These differences lead us to suggest that both cytotypes are not related merely to geographic polytipic variations but could correspond to different species.